Schumer Introduces Bill To Increase Access To Community College Computers And Prepare Workforce For Jobs In Information Technology And High Growth Industries

Press Release

Legislation Would Make Community College Computer Labs Available to the Public for At Least 30 Hours a Week for Free

Students and Members of Community Would Gain Access to Instruction in Computer Programs from Trained Experts on Weeknights and Weekends

Schumer: Our Community Colleges Are Well Positioned to Help Train and Prepare Our Workforce to Be More Competitive at Home and Throughout the World

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he introduced legislation to provide greater access to computer labs to help prepare students and community members for jobs in Information Technology (IT) and other high growth industries. Schumer's bill, the Community College Technology Access Act, S. 1614 would open the doors of community college technology labs to provide training opportunities for workers who are lacking key computer skills. The legislation would provide funding to community colleges that offer technology training and open their computer labs to the public for at least 30 hours each week at night and on weekends. Congressman John B. Larson has introduced a similar bill that has been included in the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act in the House of Representatives. The bill will be considered on the floor shortly. Schumer is working to include his legislation in the upcoming higher education bill in the Senate.

"Anytime that we can increase opportunities for our workers to gain access to computers and IT training, we are investing in the future of our job market and our economy," said Schumer. "Our community colleges play a critical role in workforce training and they are uniquely positioned to provide our workers with the skills to succeed in both the U.S. and global economies. This program will enable workers and students to access community college computer labs for free during times when they would otherwise go unused. I am proud to have introduced this legislation in the Senate and I will fight to see it through the legislative process to help brighten the future of our workers and our community colleges."

As the American workforce adapts to a high-tech economy, community colleges are playing an increasingly pivotal role in educating students and professionals. However, community colleges lack the resources to support both their student bodies and the growing demand of the general public. Without the skills to use this technology, workers are boxed out of opportunities in high growth industries.

Schumer's legislation, the Community College Technology Access Act, will give the public more opportunities for high skilled training by awarding competitive grants to community colleges that commit to providing free basic computer instruction and access to computer labs on evenings and weekends. Since labs are not always open at these times, this would provide students and members of the local community the opportunity to receive instruction in computer programs from a trained expert.

Community colleges are uniquely positioned to train and prepare individuals for a high-tech global market: In the United States, 1,177 community colleges located in geographically diverse regions enroll over 46 percent of the nation's undergraduate college students. The typical community college computer lab is open and used by students 66.5 hours per week but these hours are highly concentrated in the daytime of weekdays, when most working people are on their jobs. Under Senator Schumer's proposal, the federal government would provide grants totaling $125 million to defray the costs of keeping these labs open and staffed by community college instructors an additional 30 hours each week, on evenings and weekends when these labs are generally closed or little-used. During those hours, both students and members of the public would be able to walk in and receive instruction in computer-related skills, at no cost.

The Community College Technology Access Act will provide expanded access to community college computer labs and information technology training for workers who are looking to improve their computer skills. The legislation would provide these workers with training opportunities that could open doors to good-paying jobs and boost our local economies.

The Community College Technology Access Act would:

- Authorize the Secretary of Education to distribute competitive grants to eligible community colleges that have computer labs and commit to opening their labs for 30 hours each week on weeknights and weekends to maintain, staff and secure the computer labs. The bill would require that an instructor is present to provide training during these hours and that lab instruction is free and open to the public during this time.

- Authorize $125 million annually, with grant amounts to be determined by the Secretary, to expand access to computer labs for students and the public.

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